Nomura-Backed Laser Digital Secures Japan’s First New Crypto License in Four Years

Laser Digital Japan will initially provide liquidity services to local crypto firms, with plans to introduce institutional digital-asset trading services as demand for crypto continues to expand in the country.
Laser Digital has become Japan’s first new crypto industry entrant in four years after its Japanese subsidiary received registration as a crypto asset exchange service provider. The approval comes as Japan prepares to place digital assets under a broader financial-instruments regulatory framework.
The company said Friday that its first offering will focus on liquidity services for domestic virtual-asset service providers. It also intends to launch digital-asset trading products for institutional investors, although the company has not yet provided a launch date or detailed the full range of planned services.
Laser Digital first disclosed plans to broaden its crypto business in Japan toward the end of last year.
The firm is backed by Nomura, Japan’s largest investment bank, as institutional interest in digital assets continues to build. A 2026 survey conducted by Nomura and Laser Digital found that 79% of participants expected to invest in crypto assets within the next three years.
Laser Digital co-founder and CEO Jez Mohideen said Japan’s digital-asset sector is moving into a more mature stage. He noted that increasing institutional participation is creating greater demand for reliable counterparties and infrastructure tailored to professional investors.
Japan reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial instruments last month, marking a major change in its regulatory approach. The move creates a legal foundation for potential crypto ETFs and a separate tax framework for digital assets, with the new rules expected to take effect in 2027.
Laser Digital co-founder and Executive Chairman Steve Ashley said the company’s expansion comes as part of a broader global trend, with sophisticated investors increasingly seeking both access to digital assets and institutional-grade infrastructure to support that exposure.